Federation Free Press

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Federation Free Press
News and Opinion in the Solhaven Federation
15 Elva 1597

Chancellor Scott to embark on international tour


From our correspondent in Hyperion:
Chancellor Montgomery Scott has announced his intention to take a lengthy overseas trip to sure up the Federation's economic and political ties on Kvaenna and around the world. His first stop is scheduled to be Goldecia then Taeunas in Kvaenna, in order to sure up Solhaven's ties with the new Kvaennan Economic Community, which the Chancellor is expected to put the Federation on the path of joining in the coming weeks. This decision was long expected from Mr. Scott, but nonetheless still is a rapid change in pace in government affairs even into the third parliamentary term. Mr. Scott's decision came after lengthy back-door negotiation between the Chancellor's senior staff, the Foreign, Home and Treasury Offices and the leading powers of the K.E.C. for the last few years. Mr. Scott's further itinerary also includes trips to Adwest, the West Brigidnan Union, Severyane, the Allied States of Carpathia, A'sir, Kazemura, the Mestran Imperium, Lomarre, the Holy Lanlanian Empire, Drahen, Nyland and then finally back home.

The Chancellor's trip is a bit of a gambit, in that some of the nations on his list are known to be "aggressive, unfriendly powers yet still economically viable for foreign investment". However, the government's official position seems to point to an "centrist way of making allies of nations of all varieties".

In recent years, Solhaven's economy has tepidly grown. It has risen to the 16th biggest economy in the world as of 1595, and is considered one of the strongest economic powers in Kvaenna. The unification of the city-states as well as the formation of the Federation has sparked an increase in foreign investment and consumer confidence in the overall national economy. The gross national product of the Federation has grown at an average of 2.58% per every 5-year parliamentary term, as well as an job growth average of 63,500 per month over the last two terms. The economic surge has likely contributed to Chancellor Scott's continued popularity as well as the steady strength of the Federation Party over the last two election cycles.

Some opposition MPs, particularly those in the Union Party, believe that the Federation is having to make "too many deals with too many devils". William Decker, the Union MP for Oberon, said after the release of the itinerary, "Mr. Scott's choices of nations he wishes to deal with are problematic. They stretch from imperial regimes to communist dictatorships." The Leader of the Opposition, Jonathan Gates Archer, MP for the City of Enceladus, said in a statement, "The government's idea of a centrist way is a bit confusing. There is no middle way in allying with dictatorial regimes. The Chancellor cannot just simply say that these trade talks he wants are simply for continued economic gain."

No Union or Democratic Republican MPs have voiced any significant opposition to the possibilities of the Federation's entry into the Economic Community, though some have shown concern that joining such a conglomerate could derail some, if not all, of the economic growth the Federation has enjoyed.